Device for spreading pitch



M. WALTEN DEVICE FOR SPREADING PITCH June 2, 1936.

Filed Dec. 11, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIGA m Walk];

June 2, 1936. M, WALTEN DEVICE FOR SPREADINQ PITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Max Wa/lezz Filed Dec. 11, 1935 P-atented June 2, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,043,188 DEVICE FOR SPREADING PITCH Max Walten, Washington, D. 0.

Application December 11, 1935, Serial No. 53,980

5 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in pitch spreaders, and more particularly to a light-weight portable device for spreading the pitch or other bitumen in the laying of roofing felt.

Heretofore it has been the practice, when building large roofs, such as those used upon apartment houses and like structures, to lay the hot pitch or other material by a rather crude method which is extremely time consuming and costly, and in many instances the pitch has either been heated on the ground and hauled to the roof in buckets or other containers, or else heating tanks of comparatively large size and weight have been carried to the roof for use in melting said pitch or other bitumen for subsequent application to or spreading upon the roof by mops or like imuse in molten condition.

-, mediate application to the surface to be covered.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification, and in which I have illustrated the invention in the forms which I consider the best. It is to be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms, and it is intended that this specification, and the appended claims, cover the invention in whatever form it may be em-- bodied.

In the drawings in which like reference numerals indicate like parts Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the device forming the subject matter of this invention, and in which the plunger for the cold pitch rods is shown in its valve functioning position;

Figure 2 is a similar view of the upper part of the tubular handle and magazine structure, showing the plunger ready for pushing one of the pitch rods through the handle to the heater;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the spreader spout formed on the lower end of the tubular handle;

Figure 4' is a cross sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 2 looking toward the magazine structure;

Figure 5 is a view on line 5-5 of Figure 1, namely, through the magazine structure;

Figure 6 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a modified form of the invention;

Figure '7 is a top plan view of said modification;

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of this same modification, showing particularly the under side of the mop structure, the hand grip structure being omitted; and

Figure 9 is a front elevation of the lower part of the same modification, the upper structure including a part of the handle, the fuel tank and hand grip mechanism beingomitted.

Referring torthe preferred embodiment of this invention as disclosed by Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings, I ll indicates a tubular handle-like member of copper or similar material, having at its lower end a spreader spout member II and at its upper end a hand grip l2. Below the hand grip l2 and in convenient reach of the operator is a magazine l3 extending upwardly and outwardly from the tubular handle and having communication with the interior of said tubular handle for delivery thereto in succession, of one or more of the cold pitch rods or units which have been previously stored in said magazine. This magazine I3 may be properly insulated from the tubular handle in any preferred manner if found desirable. 1 The tubular handle Ill for a portion of its length and at a distance somewhatbelow the magazine 13, is surrounded by a casing 14, forming a combustion chamber around this portion of the handle, and for a purpose which will hereinafter be more fully described. Furthermore, a suitable gas or oil burner I5 is attached to the lower end of the combustion chamber, and this for the purpose of delivering an intense flame upon that portion of the copper tubular handle surrounded by the combustion chamber, said combustion chamber being open at its upper end to permit the combustible vapors generated by said burner to escape.

It will be apparent from the above description that a portion of the tubular handle-like structure of the present device has associated therewith a heater (elements ll-IS) 'and this for the purpose of subjecting this localized area of the tubular handle to intense red heat, thus permitting any one of the cold-pitch rods delivered through the tubular handle to this heated area, to be readily brought to a hot molten condition for subsequent delivery to the spreader member H. In this connection it is to be understood that any suitable'heater of known type may be used for heating this designated area of the tubular handie to be heated, such for instance, as those using as the heating medium, gas, oil or electricity.

The hand grip I2 is formed of insulating material as will be readily understood, or may be made of any suitable material suitably insulated from the tubular handle, which of course would be necessary in order to protect the operator's hand, in that a part of the tubular handle structure is subjected to heat. Furthermore, at this end of the tubular handle is'provided a plunger II, which plunger neatly fits the internal bore of the tubular handle, and in this relation said plunger when moved within the handle serves as a means for pushing the cold pitch rods through the tubular handle or assisting in the delivery of said pitch rods to the heated area of the tubular handle heretofore referred to. This plunger II also, when in its inward position, for instance as shown in Figure 1, acts as a valve to prevent delivery of the pitch rods to the tubular handle-from the magazine IS.

The lowermost pitch rod which may have been delivered to the tubular handle from the magazine l3, drops by gravity to a position where it is temporarily held outside of the extreme heat zone or area, by means of a spring member 13 fastened to the tubular handle and projecting through a slot it formed therein, said spring projecting in the path of said pitch rod and preventing itsialling further by gravity through the tubular handle to the heated zone.

In the operation of the device, and when it is desired to deliver a pitch rod to the heated zone, the plunger is withdrawn to the position shown in Figure 2 to allow the lowermost pitch rod to drop by gravity from the magazine into the tubular handle and assume the position shown in Figure 2 and where it is against spring l8,

whereupon said pitch rod may be retained in such position for any desired period of time. However, and in the event it is desired to immediately bring said pitch rod into a position where it is within the heated zone referred to above, the plunger is pushed through the tubular handle and in contact with the pitch rod so held by the spring i3, whereupon continued pressure on the pitch rod against the tension of said spring will release said spring and permit delivery of said pitch rod to the heated zone or area Just referred to.

The tubular handle is bent at a point Just below this heated zone, as indicated at 20, and this is for the purpose of preventing delivery of a cold pitch rod beyond this point, thereby retaining said pitch rod in the heated zone area until it has been reduced to a hot molten state, whereupon the molten pitch runs past this portion and is delivered to the spreader spout II for proper application to the surface to be covered by such molten pitch.

Below the spreader spout II is attached, in any suitable manner, fabric material 2|, which is used as a mop to evenly spread the molten pitch in the opening 32, said valve being mounted on delivered from the spreader spout to the roof or other surface to be covered.

A fuel tank 22 is provided for supplying the desired fuel to the burner i5, said fuel being delivered to the burner from said tank by means 5 of a flexible hose 23. For cutting off the supply of fuel to the burner a suitable valve is provided as shown at 24 in Figure 1.

Further than the above, a valve 25 is also provided in the tubular handle It just above the 10 spreader spout, and this forthe purpose of cutting oil. the supply of liquid or molten pitch when found desirable, such for instance, as when the job has been completed and there is still liquid pitch in the tubular handle, thus preventing dripping when carrying the device from one .place to another.

In the embodiment of the invention as shown in Figures ,6, 7, 8, and 9, the tubular handle member which is shown at 26 in these figures, is not 20 used for delivery of pitch material therethrough, but on the other hand, has a comparatively small container 21 attached to the lower end of said handle, which container is filled with pitch material to be brought to a molten state by means 25 to be hereinafter described.

The container 21 has a combustion chamber. 28 surrounding the same and a burner 29 is provided for supplying the necessary combustible vapors to the combustion chamber for heating and bringing the pitch to a molten state.

A spreader-spout 30 is attached to a neck 3| formed on the bottom of the container 21, and molten pitch is delivered by gravity through the neck to said spreader spout from the container 21 and through an opening 32 formed in the bottom of said container. The delivery of molten pitch from the container to said spreader spout may be controlled by a valve 33 seated the free end of a rocking arm 34 pivoted at 35 on the inside of the container 21 near the bottom thereof. Connected to the other end of said rocking arm 34 is an operating rod 36 which extends from this point through the container and up through the tubular handle 28, and furthermore, through and past the hand grip 31 to an operating button 38. Interposed between the operating button and the hand grip is a spiral spring 33 for keeping the upper end of the rod 36 and the operating button 38 in extended position insofar as the tubular handle and hand grip are concerned, thus normally pulling up on that portion of the rocking arm 34 which is attached to the operating rod, and effecting a tight closing of the valve 33. To open the valve and allow hot molten pitch to be delivered to the spreader spout, it is only necessary to push down on the button 33, whereby through the operating rod 38, the arm 34 is rocked to 50 raise said valve from its seat in the bottom of the container to permit delivery of molten pitch to the spreader spout as heretofore described.

Suitably attached to the lower flared end of the spreader spout are two fabric strips 40, the molten pitch being delivered by said spreader spout between said strips for subsequent spreading by said strips upon the surface to be covered. In this particular modification the fuel tank ll is carried by the handle 26 and secured there- 7 to by means of suitable straps 42, the gas or other fuel being conveyed from said tank to the burner through a pipe 43 having a valve suitably located, such for instance, at H, to control the supply of fuel to said burner.

Furthermore, in this embodiment or the invention the pitch spreading apparatus just described may be mounted as shown on a suitable lightweight truck irame" having wheels 46 journalled thereon for convenient use in moving the structure about in the performance of the work to be done.

Modification of my invention may be and may become apparent to those skilled in the art, but I do not intend to be in any way limited in the use of my invention except by the scope oi the subioined claims.

What I claim is:-

1. A "device for spreading pitch or other bitumen, comprising in combination, a tubular handle-like member within which solid pitch may be received and heated to molten condition, means for heating a localized portion of said tubular handle, means for delivering solid pitch bars to the tubular handle at a point above said heated zone, a spreader member belowsaid heated zone, and means for passing said pitch bars through the tubular handle to a point within the heated zone thereof for subsequent delivery of pitch in molten condition to the spreader member, for the purpose intended.

2. A device for spreading pitch or other bitumen, comprising in combination, a tubular handie-like member within which solid pitch may be received and heated to molten condition, a heater associated with said tubular member for heating a localized portion 01' said tubular member, means for delivering solid pitch through the tubular handle to said localized portion thereof, a spreader and pitch tubular handle, and'means for detaining pitch in solid torm within the localized heated portion and permitting only molten pitch to be delivered to the spreader member.

3. A device for spreading pitch or other. bitumen, comprising 'in combination, a tubular hanapplier upon the'lower end of said.

die-like member within which solid pitch may be received and heated to molten condition, means for heating a localized portion of said tubular handle, an opening through which solid pitch bars may be delivered to the tubular handle, 5 means for temporarily holding said pitch bars so received within the tubular-handle out of the heated zone, a spreader member at the lower end oi said tubular-member and below the heated zone, and a plunger member for contacting the pitch bars and assisting in delivering said pitch bars to the heated zone' of said tubular-handle for subsequent melting and delivery to the spreader spout in molten condition, for the purpose specifled.

4. A device for spreading pitch or other bitumen, comprising in combination a tubular handle-like member within which solid pitch units may be received and heated to molten condition, means for heating a localized portion of said tubular member, means for positioning a single pitch unit in the tubular member and at a point within the heated zone for melting the pitch, a magazine from which the pitch units may be fed to theheated zone, a spreader member for molten g5 pitch, and conveying means for the molten pitch extending from the heated zone to said spreader.

5. A device for spreading pitch or other bitumen, comprising in combination a tubular handle-like member within which solid pitch units may be received and heated to molten condition, means for heating a localized portion of said tubular member, means for retaining a single pitch unit in such position within the heated zone of-said tubular member as to subject the pitch :5 unit as an entirety wheat to melt the same for immediate use in molten condition, and a spreader member associated with the device for applying the molten pitch to=the surface to be covered.

MAX WAL'I'EN. 

